In Reel Time
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
The Montreal vocalist Mira Choquette brings plenty of intimacy to these 9 songs that were recorded in a living room, and she’s got Ewen Farncombe, Josh Goldman and Morgan Childs with her for the live recording.
“No Moon At All” opens the listen with Farncombe’s warm piano and Childs’ light percussion alongside Choquette’s expressive voice in retro-climate, and “Just One Of Those Things” follows with Choquette’s diverse range amid the rhythmic delivery that benefits much from Goldman’s lively bass.
In the middle, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” interprets the ballad from Grease with a powerful performance from Choquette’s soaring pipes, while “What Is This Thing Called Love” bops and shakes with an infectious energy thanks to the playful rhythm section of the Cole Porter original.
Further down the line, “Jump In The Line” recruits some Caribbean flavor with vocal harmonies that tip their hat to Choquette’s mother’s ties to Trinidad and Tobago, and “The Old Country” exits with frisky keys, animated bass and agile drumming that suits the charming singing.
A record that was fleshed out in 2 days of playing live with a few vocal overdubs, Choquette was sorting through a break up and the loss of her father, and those hardships helped fuel her stunning performance.
Travels well with: Emily Braden- Cannon & Sparrow; Tina Hartt- Absence Of You